Hand-Held Apparatus for Stroke Rehabilitation

ABSTRACT

A hand-held hand exercise apparatus capable of being used for stroke rehabilitation can include a foam body, a knotted strip of elastic material, and structure embedded in the body. The body can be configured to be held and compressed by a user&#39;s hand. The knotted strip can form inner and outer loops. The embedded structure can extend through the inner loop to at least partially connect the knotted strip to the body. The outer loop can be outside of the body. A user holding the body can have their finger extend through the outer loop to restrict the body from being dropped.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIORITY APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/069,812 filed Aug. 25, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to therapy equipment and, more particularly, to hand exercise equipment for stroke rehabilitation.

It is well known for stroke patients to use hand exercise equipment in an effort to improve hand motor skills. Some stroke patients frequently drop their hand exercise equipment due, for example, to weakness of their hand muscles. Such dropping can be frustrating for patients and/or their caregivers.

There is a desire for improvements in hand exercise equipment for stroke rehabilitation.

SUMMARY

An aspect of this disclosure is the provision of a hand-held hand exercise apparatus that may be used by a user (e.g., patient) for stroke rehabilitation and/or other purposes. The apparatus typically includes a compressible body configured to fit in, and be gripped in, a user's hand, and a retainer configured to inhibit the apparatus from inadvertent dropping by the user. The body can be elastic (e.g., a synthetic sponge). An inner portion of the retainer can be positioned in an interior space of the body (e.g., in a slit or cut extending into the body). The retainer inner portion can be fixedly connected to the body by an insert or fastener (e.g., member, pin, rod, or wire) embedded in the body and extending through an inner receptacle of the retainer inner portion. An outer portion of the retainer can protrude outwardly from the body and include an outer receptacle configured to receive a finger of the user in a manner that seeks to inhibit inadvertent dropping of the apparatus.

The retainer can be a web or strip of elastic material that includes or defines the inner and outer receptacles. For example, the retainer can be an elastic band (e.g., a rubber band) that has been tied to include a central or intermediate knot (e.g., overhand knot) positioned between the retainer inner and outer portions. The retainer inner and outer portions can be inner and outer loops of the knotted band.

The foregoing summary provides a few brief examples and is not exhaustive, and the present invention is not limited to the foregoing examples. The foregoing examples, as well as other examples, are further explained in the following detailed description with reference to accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings are provided as examples, and they are schematic and may not be drawn to scale. The present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples depicted in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a top-right view of a hand-held hand exercise apparatus that may be used, for example, for stroke rehabilitation, in accordance with a first embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top-right exploded view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 without its retainer, wherein a fastener is hidden from view and schematically depicted by a dashed line.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 without the retainer, wherein the fastener and a cut are hidden from view and schematically depicted by dashed lines, wherein a rear view can be identical or similar to FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is top-right view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 gripped in a hand of a user and attached to a finger of the user, wherein the proximal portion of the hand is cut-away, in accordance with the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an isolated view of a band from which the retainer of the first embodiment can be formed, wherein the band is in a precursor configuration.

FIG. 7 is an isolated view of the band of FIG. 6 in an intermediate configuration.

FIG. 8 is an isolated view of the band of FIG. 6 in a relatively loosely knotted configuration.

FIG. 9 is an isolated view of the first embodiment retainer/the band of FIG. 6 in a tightly knotted configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Examples of embodiments are disclosed in the following. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. For example, features disclosed as part of one embodiment or example can be used in the context of another embodiment or example to yield a further embodiment or example. As another example of the breadth of this disclosure, it is within the scope of this disclosure for one or more of the terms “substantially,” “about,” “approximately,” and/or the like, to qualify each of the adjectives and adverbs of the Detailed Description section of disclosure, as discussed in greater detail below.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a hand-held hand exercise apparatus 10 that may be used by a user (e.g., patient) for stroke rehabilitation and/or other purposes includes at least one compressible body 12 and at least one retainer 14. The compressible body 12 is configured to fit in, and be gripped in, a user's hand. The retainer 14 is configured to inhibit the apparatus 10 from inadvertent dropping by the user. The body 12 can be elastic (e.g., synthetic sponge) and generally in the form of a rectangular block, although differently configured bodies are within the scope of this disclosure, as discussed further below.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the first embodiment body 12 includes a front side 20, rear side 22, top side 24, bottom side 26, right side 28, and left side 30, and at least one cut 40 (e.g., hole, slit, or other suitable opening). In the example depicted in the drawings, the cut 40 is centrally located in the top 24, extends through the top and downwardly into the interior of the body 12 toward the bottom 26, and the cut is generally planar in that it extends, for example, toward the front and rear sides 20, 22. The cut 40 is schematically depicted by an upright dashed line in FIG. 4. Although not depicted in the drawings, optionally the cut 40 can extend through the bottom 26/through the entire height of the body 12.

The body 12 can comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of compressible material of the type that can be manually compressed in a user's hand for stroke rehabilitation (e.g., a relatively soft piece of material that can be manually compressed by a stroke patient). More specifically, the first embodiment body 12 can be a conventional piece of sponge, foam, or synthetic sponge of the type that can be manually compressed in a user's hand for stroke rehabilitation. As a more specific example, the body 12 can comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of elastic solid foam (e.g., elastic, open-cell foam material; elastic, open-cell, synthetic sponge material; and/or other suitable material). It is believed that suitable foam and/or sponge material may be made from polyester, polyvinyl chloride, ethylene-vinyl acetate, rubber, cellulose, polyurethane, silicone, and/or other suitable polymeric materials using suitable conventional techniques for forming the cells of the material. In accordance with the first embodiment, FIGS. 1-5 are schematic, for example, because open cells at the exterior of the body 12 are not depicted.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the rectangular (e.g., generally or substantially rectangular) block-shaped body 12 of the first embodiment has a width (e.g., crosswise dimension) defined between the front and rear sides 20, 22, a height (e.g., crosswise dimension) defined between the top and bottom sides 24, 26, and length (e.g., crosswise dimension) defined between the right and left sides 28, 30. As examples, each of the body's crosswise dimensions (e.g., height, width, and length) can be less than about 5 inches (in.); the body's length can be less than about 5 in.; each of the body's width and height can be less than about 3 in.; the body's length can be in a range of from about 2 in to about 5 in.; each of the body's width and height can be in a range of from about 1 in to about 3 in.; the body's length can be about 4 in.; each of the body's width and height can be about 2 in.; the body's length can be about 3.5 in.; each of the body's width and height can be about 1.5 in.; the body's length can be about 3 in.; each of the body's width and height can be about 1 in.; including all values and subranges therebetween for each of the above. It is believed that each of the above values and ranges can vary by plus or minus about 25%, plus or minus about 20%, plus or minus about 15%, plus or minus about 10%, or plus or minus about 5%.

Referring to FIG. 2, the first embodiment retainer 14 includes an intermediate portion 50 positioned between, and connecting, opposite inner and outer ends portions 52, 54 of the retainer. The inner and outer ends portions 52, 54 of the retainer can each include at least one receptacle (e.g., inner and outer receptacles 56, 58, respectively). Generally described, each of the receptacles 56, 58 can define or be an opening, hole, passageway, hook-shaped receptacle, ring-shaped receptacle, partial-ring receptacle, loop-shaped receptacle, eyelet, and/or any other suitable receptacle, as at least partially discussed further below. In the first embodiment, the inner portion 52 of the retainer 14 is positioned in the opening defined by (e.g., at least partially defined by) the cut 40, so that the retainer inner portion 52 is positioned in an interior space of the body 12; and the retainer inner portion is fixedly connected to the body by at least one member, insert, or fastener 60 (e.g., an inserted member, pin, rod, or wire) embedded and encapsulated in the body, and extending through the inner receptacle 56. In the first embodiment, the retainer outer portion 54 protrudes outwardly from the body 12, and the outer receptacle 58 is configured to receive at least one finger, or other suitable portion, of the user in a manner that seeks to inhibit inadvertent dropping of the apparatus 10.

The retainer 14 can be a web or strip of elastic material that includes or defines the inner and outer receptacles 56, 58 in the form of loops, holes, eyelet, and/or any other suitable structures. In the first embodiment, the retainer 14 is an elastic band (e.g., a conventional rubber band in the form of a loop of rubber or other suitable elastic material) that has been tied so that the intermediate portion 50 is in the form of at least one central or intermediate knot 50 (e.g., overhand knot) positioned between the retainer inner and outer portions 52, 54. In the first embodiment, the retainer inner and outer portions 52, 54 are inner and outer loops of the elastic, knotted band 14, so that the inner and outer receptacles 56, 58 are the openings or holes defined by (e.g., at least partially defined by) the loops.

In the first embodiment, the retainer inner portion 52 is positioned in the opening that is defined in the interior space of the body 12 by the hole, slit or cut 40 that extends into the body. The retainer inner portion 52 can be fixedly connected to the body 12 by the inserted fastener 60 (e.g., member, pin, rod, or wire) embedded in the body and extending through the inner receptacle 56. The first embodiment retainer outer portion 54 protrudes outwardly from the body 12 and the outer receptacle 58 is configured to receive a finger of the user in a manner that seeks to inhibit inadvertent dropping of the apparatus 10.

In the first embodiment, when the outer receptacle 58 is in an unstretched configuration and manually manipulated into a round, ring-like configuration, its inner diameter can conform to any of the following ring sizes, or any ranges including or between any of the following ring sizes:

U.S. Ring Sizes Inner Diameter (in.) Inner Circumference (in.)  0 0.458 1.44  1 0.49 1.54  1½ 0.506 1.59  1¼ 0.498 1.56  1¾ 0.514 1.61  2 0.577 1.64  2½ 0.538 1.69  2¼ 0.53 1.67  2¾ 0.546 1.72  3 0.554 1.74  3½ 0.57 1.79  3¼ 0.562 1.77  3¾ 0.578 1.82  4 0.586 1.84  4½ 0.602 1.89  4¼ 0.594 1.87  4¾ 0.61 1.92  5 0.618 1.94  5½ 0.634 1.99  5¼ 0.626 1.97  5¾ 0.642 7.07  6 0.65 2.04  6½ 0.666 2.09  6¼ 0.658 2.07  6¾ 0.674 2.12  7 0.682 2.14  7½ 0.698 7.19  7¼ 0.69 2.17  7¾ 0.706 2.22  8 0.714 7.74  8½ 0.73 2.29  8¼ 0.722 2.27  8¾ 0.738 2.32  9 0.746 7.34  9½ 0.762 2.39  9¼ 0.754 7.37  9¾ 0.77 2.42 10 0.778 2.44 10½ 0.794 7.49 10¼ 0.786 2.47 10¾ 0.802 2.57 11 0.81 2.54 11½ 0.826 2.59 11¼ 0.818 2.57 11¾ 0.834 2.62 12 0.842 2.65 12½ 0.858 2.70 12¼ 0.85 2.67 12¾ 0.866 2.72 13 0.874 2.75 13½ 0.89 2.80 13¼ 0.882 2.77 13¾ 0.898 2.82 14 0.906 2.85 14½ 0.922 2.90 14¼ 0.914 2.87 14¾ 0.93 2.92 15 0.938 2.95 15½ 0.954 3.00 15¼ 0.946 2.97 15¾ 0.962 3.02 16 0.97 3.05

Alternatively, it is believed that the outer receptacle 58 may be larger than indicated above, for example, for simultaneously being in receipt of multiple fingers, the palm of the associated hand, and/or other suitable structure.

Exemplary aspects of a method of using the apparatus 10 are described in the following, in accordance with the first embodiment. With a user's hand (see, e.g., FIG. 5, hand 62) in its generally open configuration, the outer receptacle 58 can be moved inwardly along at least one finger (see, e.g., FIG. 5, middle finger 64) by way of relative movement between the hand and the apparatus 10, so that the finger is received in the outer receptacle and the body 12 is in opposing face-to-face configuration with a front of the user's hand 62 (i.e., the side including the palm). The retainer outer portion 54 can be manually manipulated to deform/increase the size of the outer receptacle 58 to streamline insertion of the finger 64 through the outer receptacle. Thereafter, the manual manipulation of the retainer outer portion 54 can be ceased so that the elasticity of the retainer outer portion causes the outer receptacle 58 to return toward its original size to more closely conform to the shape of the finger. The outer receptacle 58 can fit snugly on a finger 64 of the user's hand while the body 12 is in opposing face-to-face configuration with a front of the user's hand 62 to restrict the receptacle 58 from inadvertently sliding off of the finger 64. The snug fit can be the result of an inner diameter of the receptacle 58 being the same as, substantially the same as, or about the same as the outer diameter of the finger 64.

While the finger 64 is in the outer receptacle 58, the user can squeeze and open their hand 62 to respectively compress the body 12 and allow the body to elastically return toward its uncompressed state, to improve hand motor skills. The outer receptacle 58 being worn on the finger 64 (e.g., similar to how a ring is worn) inhibits inadvertent dropping of the apparatus 10. For removing the apparatus 10, with the user's hand 62 in its generally open configuration, the outer receptacle 58 can be moved outwardly along the finger 64 by way of relative movement between the hand and the apparatus. FIG. 5 depicts an example in which the hand 62 is holding the body 12 so that the front of the hand extends at least partially around and is in opposing face-to-face contact with the body.

Referring to FIGS. 6-9, exemplary aspects of a method of forming the retainer 14 (FIG. 9) from a precursor elastic band 70 (FIGS. 6-8) are described in the following, in accordance with the first embodiment. Referring to FIG. 7, a central portion of the precursor band 70 can be formed into a central or intermediate loop by overlapping respective portions of the precursor band. Referring to FIG. 8, an end portion of the precursor band 70 can be inserted through the intermediate loop to loosely form an intermediate overhand knot. Referring to FIG. 9, the band end portions 52, 54 can be pulled away from one another to tighten the intermediate knot 50 and complete the formation of the retainer 14.

Exemplary aspects of a method of assembling the apparatus 10 are described in the following, in accordance with the first embodiment. After forming the cut 40 (e.g., slit) in the body 12, the retainer inner portion 52 can be manually forced into the opening into the interior space of the body that is defined by (e.g., at least partially defined by) the cut, so that the central axis of the opening of the inner receptacle 56 is coaxial with, or extends about parallel to, the lengthwise axis of the body. Then, the fastener 60 (FIGS. 2-4) can be manually inserted through either the right side 28 or the left side 30 of the body 12, and be manually pushed inwardly so as to extend and travel along, or about parallel to, the lengthwise axis of the body, so that the fastener extends through the opening of the inner receptacle 56.

Exemplary aspects of a method of forcing the retainer inner portion 52 into the opening into the interior space of the body that is defined by the cut 40 (“cut-defined opening”) are described in the following, in accordance with the first embodiment. For example in the configuration depicted in FIG. 2, a person assembling the apparatus 10 can insert a finger or other suitable structure into the inner receptacle 56, and push downwardly against the lower end portion of the retainer inner portion 52. In this manner, the lower end portion of the retainer inner portion 52 can be pushed downwardly against the cut 40 to open the cut-defined opening, push the lower end portion of the retainer inner portion 52 into the cut-defined opening, and pull a majority of, or all of, the remainder of the retainer inner portion 52 into the cut-defined opening. Then, the person assembling the apparatus 10 can remove their finger or other suitable structure from the cut-defined opening. The elastic nature of the body 12 typically causes the cut-defined hole to at least partially close so that at least a majority of, or all of, the retainer inner portion 52 is at least partially held within the cut-defined hole, for example by way of an interference fit between the retainer inner portion 52 and the portion of the body 12 that defines the cut-defined hole.

The length of the fastener 60 is typically shorter than the length of the body 12, as measured between the right and left sides 28, 30 of the body. As examples, the length of the fastener 60 can be about 4.5 in or less; the fastener's length can be in a range of from about 1.5 in to about 4.5 in.; the fastener's length can be about 4 in.; the fastener's length can be about 3.5 in.; the fastener's length can be about 3 in.; the fastener's length can be about 2.5 in.; the fastener's length can be about 2 in.; the fastener's length can be about 1.5 in.; including all values and subranges therebetween for each of the above. It is believed that each of the above values and ranges can vary by plus or minus about 25%, plus or minus about 20%, plus or minus about 15%, plus or minus about 10%, or plus or minus about 5%.

As a result of the first embodiment fastener 60 being shorter than the length of the body 12, a finger of the person inserting the fastener can push the end of the fastener into the body 12 until the end of the fastener is flush with the respective side, and then the end of the fastener and the associated portion of the side can be pushed farther inwardly so that the portion of the side engaged by the finger is elastically inwardly deformed. Then, the finger can be removed from the inwardly deformed side portion so that the inwardly deformed side portion elastically returns toward its undeformed configuration, and both ends of the fastener 60 are inwardly recessed from the right to the left sides 28, 30 of the body 12. More specifically, the fastener or other suitable member 60 can be at least partially or completely embedded and encapsulated in the body 12, so that the entirety of the member 60 is spaced apart from at least a majority of, or each of, the body's sides 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30.

The elastic nature of the body 12 typically causes an insertion hole 80 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 5), which is formed by the inserting of the fastener 60, to at least partially close. The elastic nature of the body 12 typically also causes the fastener 60 to be fixedly mounted in the body 12 by way of an interference fit, so that the fastener extending through the inner receptacle 56 fixedly mounts the retainer 14 to the body. In the first embodiment, the fastener 60 is a piece of metal wire that is both sufficiently stiff or rigid to be manually pushed into the body 12 and through the opening 56 of the retainer inner portion 52, and sufficiently flexible to readily deform when any squeezing of the body by the user causes deforming force(s) to penetrate the body and engage the wire in a direction extending crosswise to the length of the wire.

Other embodiments are like the first embodiment, except for variations noted and variations that will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. In other embodiments, the body 12 can be round, spherical, cylindrical, elliptical, and/or any other suitable shapes. Similarly, in other embodiments the retainer 14 can be in any suitable configuration. For example, it is believed that the retainer 14 may be formed from a precursor elastic strip that is not originally in the form of a band, and the receptacles 56, 58 (e.g., the holes, loops, and/or other suitable features) can be formed in any suitable manner. As another example, it is believed that the retainer 14 may be a linkage including ring-like links (e.g., rings) that respectively function as and/or define the inner and outer receptacles 56, 58.

Reiterating from above, it is within the scope of this disclosure for one or more of the terms “substantially,” “about,” “approximately,” and/or the like, to qualify each of the adjectives and adverbs of the foregoing disclosure, for the purpose of providing a broad disclosure. As an example, it is believed that those of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that, in different implementations of the features of this disclosure, reasonably different engineering tolerances, precision, and/or accuracy may be applicable and suitable for obtaining the desired result. Accordingly, it is believed that those of ordinary skill will readily understand usage herein of the terms such as “substantially,” “about,” “approximately,” and the like.

In the specification and drawings, examples of embodiments have been disclosed. The present invention is not limited to such exemplary embodiments. The use of the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus configured to be used for exercising a user's hand for stroke rehabilitation, the apparatus comprising: an elastic, polymeric foam body configured to be held and compressed by a user's hand; a knotted strip of elastic material defining a plurality of loops comprising: an inner loop extending at least partially around an inner opening, and an outer loop extending at least partially around an outer opening; and at least one structure embedded in the body and extending through the inner opening to at least partially connect the knotted strip to the body; wherein at least a portion of the outer loop is outside of the body and configured to have at least one finger of the user's hand extend through the outer loop while the body is in opposing face-to-face configuration with a front of the user's hand to restrict the body from being dropped by the user.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one structure extends through a portion of the inner loop that is positioned in a cut in the body.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the knotted strip is a knotted rubber band.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a dimension defined between opposite sides of the body is at least about 1 inch.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a dimension defined between opposite sides of the body is at least about 3 inches.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one structure comprises wire.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the wire is a substantially straight piece of wire.
 8. An apparatus configured to be used for exercising a user's hand for stroke rehabilitation, the apparatus comprising: a body comprising elastic material and configured to be held and compressed by a user's hand for stroke rehabilitation; and a retainer configured to restrict the body from being dropped by the user's hand, the retainer comprising: an inner portion connected to the body, and an outer portion connected to the inner portion and comprising a receptacle, wherein at least a portion of the receptacle is positioned outwardly from the body, and the receptacle is configured to fit snugly on a finger of the user's hand while the body is in opposing face-to-face configuration with a front of the user's hand to restrict the body from being dropped by the user.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the retainer comprises a knotted strip of material defining a plurality of loops.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: the retainer comprises at least one strip of material defining a plurality of openings; an opening of the plurality of openings is the receptacle of the outer portion.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: the inner portion is at least partially positioned in an interior space of the body; and the outer portion is at least partially positioned outside of the interior space of the body.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the body comprises polymeric foam.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the body is a polymeric foam body.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the body comprises sponge.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the body is a sponge body.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the inner portion of the retainer extends into a hole in the body.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a dimension defined between opposite sides of the body is at least about 3 inches.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: the inner portion comprises a receptacle; and the apparatus comprises at least one structure embedded in the body and extending into the receptacle of the inner portion to at least partially connect the inner portion to the body.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the at least one structure comprises a substantially straight piece of wire.
 20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein: the retainer comprises a knotted strip of elastic material that defines a plurality of loops; the receptacle of the inner portion is an opening at least partially defined by a loop of the plurality of loops; and the receptacle of the outer portion is an opening at least partially defined by a loop of the plurality of loops. 